Package Sessions and Custom Settings Files

To create a companion installer package

1. Note the locations of custom configuration files you've created.

2. From your administrative installation point, open the Installation Customization Tool from a shortcut or by typing the following command line:

   < path_to_setup >\setup.exe /admin

3. In the Select Customization dialog box, open the companion installer view:

   • If you created a companion installer package earlier, select Open an existing Setup file or Companion installer, click OK, and then browse to select the file.

   • If you have not created a companion installer package, select Create a new Companion installer.

4. From the navigation pane, select Specify package information.

5. In the Add/Remove name box and the Organization name box, type a name for the installation and the publisher that you want to be displayed in the Microsoft Windows Uninstall or change a program (Add or remove programs) list.

6. From the navigation pane, click Specify install locations, and specify the Installation type. Select whether to install the files for all users or for only one user:

   • Installs to all users of a machine makes files available for every user who logs onto the computer. Use this option for settings files, macros, and other configuration files that you want to be available to all users.

   • Installs only for the user who installs it makes files available only for the user who installs them.

7. In the Default installation folder list, select the folder in which to install the files. (Files are deployed to this folder unless you specify another folder when you add a file.)

   NOTE:The folders available in this list depend on which Installation type you chose. Installation Type folder options specify the access for the files (after the installation). These options affect only the folders to which you can install — you cannot change these options after you add a file.

8. In the Default shortcut folder list, select the folder in which to install program shortcuts. (Shortcuts are deployed to this folder unless you specify another folder when you add a file.)

   NOTE:List items that refer to folders are pre-defined folder keywords (for example, [ProgramMenuFolder]). You can create customized directories by adding new folder names with typical directory syntax (such as, [ProgramFilesFolder]\My Folder). Alternatively, you can enter a fully qualified path (for example, C:\Program Files\My Folder), as long as that location is known to exist on the target machine.

9. From the navigation pane, select Add files and then click Add and browse to the files you want to include.

10. Specify the destination directory for each file as follows:

    1. In the table of files that you added, select the file.

    2. In the Add files to list (at the bottom of the panel), enter the destination directory. (You can choose a location from the list or edit the path by typing. Use the Customized Files and Where to Deploy Them table as a guide for where to install the custom files you have created.)

       NOTE:The folder location you add must already exist on all target computers.

    3. Click Update. (The destination directory for the file is displayed in the table’s Location column.)

11. If you want to create a shortcut for the file, select Include shortcut and then click Update.

12. From the File menu, save the .msi file on the administrative installation point.